Alaska: Humpback Whale's Tail at Moonrise

Humpback Whale's Tail at Moonrise

I can't believe that it has been ten years! I bought this card when I attended ASPRS annual conference at Anchorage, Alaska from May 5 to May 9, 2003. There were several others in the set, along with a couple of shaped cards and a bronze postcard. I like them very much and wanted to keep them as my personal permanent collections. However, I recently realized that a better way to appreciate them was to share them with my friends. This card is going out today as US-2213857 to Taiwan.

Two Whales Frolic in the Ocean

The postcard sent to Belarus as US-1834439 was part of the Alaska collections. There are actually two whales shown on the card. I had not noticed that for a long time before I sent it out on August 25, 2012.

Update: Another Alaska postcard showing a winter cabin illuminated by the eerie glow of Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) was sent to China via ICardYou on May 8, 2013.

Northern Lights

Today in History: The first American in space

Space Shuttle Challenger on Mission STS-8

On May 5, 1961, Navy Commander Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. became the first American to travel into space on the Freedom 7 space capsule.

On this 52nd anniversary, I found a NASA postcard among my early postcard collections, sent from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida, on December, 19, 1999. We sent the card to ourselves when we went to see the Space Shuttle Discovery launch for the 3rd Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission STS-103. It was launched from Pad: 39B on December 19, 1999, 7:50 p.m. EST. It was a night time launch since the sunset that day was 5:32 PM. It was our second attempt to drive 300 miles round trip from West Palm Beach to see the Discovery launch in two days. The previous day launch attempt on December 18 was scrubbed due to the weather. There were two more canceled launch attemps on December 6 and December 16, 1999 for technical reasons. We were debating whether to go again on December 19 as the forecast had 40% chance for bad weather. However, our determination paid off for an once-in-a-life-time experience.

Interestingly, the Challenger mission, STS-8 shown on the card, was the first night launch of the space shuttle. The nose of the shuttle was positioned away from the sun in order to test the flight deck's performance in extreme cold temperature. Night time launches were banned after the Shuttle Columbia accident in order to better monitor the foam falling off.

Pictorial Postmark at the Kennedy Space Center

The pictorial postmark had a space shuttle image with the text "Benefits on Earth". The stamp was a non-denominated 'H' stamps issued at the 'birthplace' of Uncle Sam in Troy, New York on November 9, 1988. The "H-series" stamp features Uncle Sam's Top Hat with stars and stripes on a white background. The stamp was valued at 33 cents for the First-Class, 1 ounce, letter rate effective January 10, 1999. 

 Where the postcard was bought: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex gift shop

The 115th Anniversary of Peking University

West Gate of Peking University

It is the Homecoming Day for Peking University's alumni on May 4th every year, coinciding with the university's anniversary celebration. Today's postcard commemorates the 115th Anniversary of Peking University, founded in 1898. Since the campus is on the site of royal gardens in the Qing Dynasty, it retains many historical structures. The West Gate leading to the campus is the most well known for the painted murals on its ceiling, similar to those on the Long Covered Walkway in the Summer Palace.

You can create and purchase a copy of  West Gate of Peking University postcard at zazzle.com.

Space Day: the First Friday in May

STS-41C Mission Insignia for the Space Shuttle Challenger

The Space Day was first introduced in 1997. It is the first day in May every year. Space themed postcards are among my favorites. I would like to highlight this US-1999692 card to mark the Space Day for 2013 on May 3rd. The postcard shows the STS-41C mission insignia. Originally numbered as STS-13, it was NASA's 11th Space Shuttle flight, and the 5th for the Shuttle Challenger. It was launched on April 6, 1984 from the  Kennedy Space Center, and landed at Edwards Air Force Base on April 13, 1984.

I found quite a few space themed postcards in the Planetarium gift shop at the College of Southern Nevada. Programs are presented on the domed screen very Friday at 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm and every Saturday at 3:30 pm, 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm & 8:00 pm. Check their Event Calendar for the current line up. Weather permitting, the telescopes at the Student Observatory will be open for viewing After the 8pm presentation.

Clare has a blog post on the 10 Stamps for the Space Day. Hope I can collect them all some day.

Where the postcard was bought:  Planetarium and Observatory at the College of Southern Nevada

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park

Spring Mountain Ranch

After visiting Mt. Charleston in the Sunday morning on April 28, 2013, I decided to drive to the Spring Mountain Ranch, a State Park of Nevada, USA. It is located in the Cottonwood Valley, 15 miles (25 km) west of Las Vegas. From Mt. Charleston, it was about one-hour driving (47 miles/76 km).

The historic Sand Stone Ranch was established in 1876. It was listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places on April 3, 1976. A preceding campsite was set up in the mid-1830's, on the alternate route of the Old Spanish Trail that connected the northern settlements near Santa Fe, New Mexico with those in the Southern California. The spring-fed creek and grassy meadows on site formed an oasis for travelers using pack and wagon trains.

The temperature is usually 10-15°F(6-8°C) cooler at the Ranch (3,800 feet/1,158 m) than in Las Vegas (2,181 feet/665 m). Therefore, it is a nice place for retreat with its Super Summer Theater and Living History Program.

The main ranch house serves as the visitor information center. It was staffed with Park volunteers. You can buy postcards and other  souvenirs there. The park admission is US$7 per vehicle.

The postcard, sent as US-2206077 to USA on April 30, 2013, shows the ranch house living room.

Address:

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park
6375 Hwy 159,  Blue Diamond, NV 89004
(702) 875-4141

Love and Green for Earth Day

April 22nd

Let's mark the Earth Day with some love and green. This postcard was a private swap. It reads: Love means your heart is the end of the World as I couldn't go any further. Born with the color of cactus green, you are a  hard worker full of determination. I happened to find this song on Youtube; I think it's sweet.

There is actually an "Earth" in Texas, a small town with population of 1,109 people as of the 2000 Census. It even has a post office!

View Larger Map

It's FourSquare Day!

My FourSquare Badges

Foursquare is a location-based social networking service for mobile devices. Users "check in" at venues from a device by selecting a nearby venue from a list located by GPS and/or network location. Each check-in awards the user points, and unlocks specials if offered by the venue. Badges are earned by checking in to certain venues or by completing certain tasks.

Foursquare declared April 16 "Foursquare Day" as April being the 4th month and the 16th being equal to four squared (4²).

My postcard US-2139832 sent to Germany on March 19, 2013 shows all the FourSquare badges I earned by then.